Pilates Elephants

The story of how Ana Maria Borrero went from from €17/hr employee to nearly €10k/month in revenue with 6 reformers, 20 classes, and a waitlist in a small Dutch town.

Find Ana here:

• https://movewithana.nl/
• https://www.instagram.com/movewithanapilates/

Many studio owners have a love/hate relationship with Classpass - Sari and I have an honest conversation about the pros and cons, and why (and how) her studios are leaving Classpass.

There IS a right thing to cue in each exercise in Pilates. Here's how to know what it is.

Bonus - There is no consistent pattern of muscle activation in the prone hip extension test. Except that gluteus maximus is consistently the last muscle to activate - here

Many instructors use layers, but most miss the most powerful part of this amazing programming tool.

Cassie and Henry from Sunny Space Studio share how they grew their reformer studio in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, to $65k a month within a year - without spending a dollar on ads.

They break down how they attract over 100 first visits per month through exceptional client experience, brand consistency, and word of mouth. Plus how they train loyal clients into instructors, create SOPs that scale, and keep classes sold out with clear standards and warm service.

This episode is a playbook for studio owners doing $10k+ who want to grow fast, without chaos or burnout.

Check out Sunny Space here: https://www.sunnyspacestudio.ca/

And on IG: https://www.instagram.com/sunnyspace.studio

Laura and Sam from Form & Flow Pilates share how they grew from one to two thriving studios in a year. They reveal the systems, standards, and teamwork that made it possible—and how they balance marriage, business, and growth without burnout.

Find Laura and Sam's studios here: https://formandflow.co.uk/

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Studio Mastermind
• Teaching Mastery Program

Pilates Process Vancouver co-owner Alison Ward shares how clear boundaries protect studio culture, staff morale, and client respect.

We dive into setting policies, holding firm under pressure, and why saying no can actually grow your business.

Find Pilates Process Vancouver here: https://www.pilatesprocessvancouver.ca/

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Studio Mastermind
• Teaching Mastery Program

Most studio owners think offering more types of movement classes will attract more clients.

In this episode, I explain why those formats actually hurt your studio by lowering margins, confusing your brand, and competing with cheap alternatives.

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Studio Mastermind
• Teaching Mastery Program

Laura Saggers joins me to share the real story behind expanding from one to two Pilates studios.

We cover the unexpected challenges of growth, what worked at one location but not the other, and how she navigated ClassPass, staffing, and competition.

If you’re considering opening a second studio, this conversation will show you what no one tells you before you take the leap.

Find Laura here:

• https://www.instagram.com/laurasaggers/
• https://risepilates.com.au/

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Studio Mastermind
• Teaching Mastery Program

At just 23, Chelsea McBride turned personal struggles into purpose and built a Pilates studio that filled up so fast she had to close the books.

In this episode, you’ll hear how Chelsea:

• Grew from teaching private sessions at home to running 50 weekly reformer classes with 11 beds.
• Built a team of six
• Created so much demand she now has a waitlist for new clients
• All in a town of only 15,000 people

Connect with Chelsea:

• Online https://www.themindandbodyclub.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themindandbodyclub

Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender

Download a free course guide:

• Pilates Certification
• Studio Mastermind
• Teaching Mastery Program